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Updated Father Jose Silva, the Roman Catholic priest charged with sexual assault last fall, is now a free man back in his native Brazil.

According to his attorney, it comes as result of a deal struck between prosecutors and the defence.

Father Silva had been a priest at St Mary’s Church on Park Street North since 2009. In September was charged with sexual assault and received bail a few days later. One of the conditions was that he hand over his passport to Hamilton Police.

Tonight CHCH News has been informed by his attorney, Dean Paquette, that Father Silva’s passport was returned by the Crown as part of a deal which would see Silva leave for his native Brazil, never to return.

The alleged incident took place during a courtyard party outside of the church. The accuser, an 18 year old man, alleges that he was sexually…